Henry Fessy

Vineyards and Winemaking

Vineyards

The Henry Fessy domaine covers almost 70 hectares and includes vineyards in the appellations of Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly, Chénas, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Régnié, Saint Amour, Beaujolais-Villages, Beaujolais and Beaujolais Blanc. The vines are an average of 50 years old and are trained in the traditional manner en Gobelet, which are individual low bush vines. The size and extent of the domaine is unique in the region and allows the Henry Fessy team a unique insight into the vintage and character of each of their wines.

Beaujolais Cru wines are unique. Made from the Gamay grape grown on sandy, stony or schistose granite-based soils with no lime, the wines have roundness, depth of flavour and texture that this grape does not produce anywhere else in the world.

The domaine's vineyards are managed with sensitivity towards the environment with intervention only taking place when it is necessary and beneficial. This philosophy allows them to produce characterful wines which express a true sense of place and origin.

Winemaking

Laurent Chevalier, Henry Fessy’s winemaker, believes in simple winemaking that allows the individual characteristics of the grapes and season to reveal themselves. The harvest is carried out by hand. Once in the winery around 20% of the Gamay grapes are put into the fermentation tanks as whole bunches with the remaining 80% destemmed. Fermentation takes place at between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius with one or two pump overs each day. After fermentation the free run juice is drawn off and the grapes are transferred to the press. The first press juices are combined with the free run juice. The wine is then aged and racked occasionally. It is bottled unfined with a light filtration and a small amount of added sulphur to protect the wine. Henry Fessy wines are suitable for vegetarians.